Surf Lakes Road Trip
Sometimes having a reputation for building super strong and flexible eco minded surfboards can land you in it a bit. As I looked at the dredging peak that our crew had been assigned to test, my heart was in my throat. This was the real deal. The most lethal of the breaks at Surf Lakes.
“As I looked at the dredging peak that our crew had been assigned to test, my heart was in my throat. This was the real deal. The most lethal of the breaks at Surf Lakes.”
NOTOX had been invited to test their products, get some nice shots and media and be “crash test dummies” at Surf Lakes Australia.
NOTOX had been invited to test their products, get some nice shots and media and be “crash test dummies” at Surf Lakes Australia. After months of planning, we were finally onsite in Yeppoon in Central Queensland and champing at the bit to get in the non-salty wet stuff.
We were directed away from the well publicized Occy’s peak, away from the lovely smooth Beachie wave – we were specifically sent to test The Wedge and The Island and another break that is so hectic no one has named it yet.
“One of the highlights of the trip for me was watching our beloved Rosie Locke, be the first longboarder to make the drop at The Island, the most insane break at Surf Lakes”
No doubt you have all seen the footage of Dingo Morrison and Ben Player on the back door of The Island, what you haven’t seen is a longboard on that wave. Definitely one of the highlights of the trip for me was watching our beloved Rosie Locke, be the first longboarder to make the drop at The Island. The Island is the most insane break at Surf Lakes, so to see it ridden on a longboard, and so well, gave us all goosebumps. Kudos Rosie.
What does it feel like? No one to hustle snake around, no one to dodge, no bluebottles and no tides or rocks to juggle. There is a calm channel to watch the others ride their perfect 10 and cheer them on. You’re not chasing or waiting for a better wave, as it’s the same every time. Honestly, it’s pretty sweet. Unlike being in the ocean and having to pick out the set waves, letting some others go by to “feed the fish” and look after the line up. Every wave that comes through is for you and they are all the same. It’s so good that I am waiting for someone to slap me awake.
“Every wave that comes through is for you and they are all the same. It’s so good that I am waiting for someone to slap me awake.”
The iconic industrial steel bowl, which resembles a ship’s hull, lifts up and falls back down only 10 meters behind the surfer. A small swell will surge under them. They will feel the lift up and if you’re in the right spot there is not too much paddling or work to be done. You are surfing and that’s it.
Over at the more chilled Beachie wave a quick spot became available for one of our first NOTOX Australian customers. Australian of the Year Nominee and the world best high school teacher, Mr Matty Barber with a textbook bottom turn. Mr Barber is the brains and balls behind the education program Cooee, which is specifically designed to ready High School students for the real world. He scored some good ones! You can read more about Come here: https://qed.qld.gov.au/about-us/news-and-media/making-waves-brighter-future
So is Surf Lakes going to work and what is the environmental impact? With surfing now in the Olympics, it is inevitable that the number of surfers is going to increase. Is there room for these additional surfers in the ocean? Can the ocean handle more oxybenzone and octinoxate? Google what that chemical in your sunscreen is doing to the ocean’s water temperature and coral. It’s nothing good!
“If you are worried the wave pool will feel too industrial or artificial, be assured it doesn’t. A wave pool can be built in a rural space with natural surroundings, appealing to those who enjoy scenic landscapes”
If you are worried the wave pool will feel too industrial or artificial, be assured it doesn’t. A wave pool can be built in a rural space with natural surroundings, appealing to those who enjoy scenic landscapes, like surfing on remote islands or something similar to Noosa’s Tea Tree Bay. The pools can be built with an infrastructure in place to be able to manage the large influx of guests, therefore not putting added pressure on the natural environment or current minimal amenities.
With that said, I encourage you all, when the opportunity becomes available to you, to go and have a go, travel with an open mind but also prepare to have it blown away. Your NOTOX board will love it!!
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